Seafood Academy expands industry

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 7:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 7:33 p.m.

Fishermen across south Louisiana are going back to school this month to learn more about their livelihood.

The Louisiana Direct Seafood Academy, a program sponsored by Louisiana Sea Grant and the LSU AgCenter, is a series of workshops being held across the coast to teach fishermen marketing, product quality, safety and new business techniques to help them succeed in the changing fishing industry.

The project started with a direct Web-marketing program in Delcambre and has expanded into a website marketing fishermen, producers and retailers in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Cameron parishes and the New Orleans area, along with the Seafood Academy training program.

“What we’re trying to do is increase professionalism and quality so that we can get a better price for seafood,” said Alan Matherne, a Louisiana Sea Grant coastal and fisheries outreach specialist.

Matherne said the plan is to hold the training annually in March and April before the spring shrimp harvest. These hands-on events provide opportunities for participating commercial fishermen to learn how to increase yield and profit.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board, Nature Conservatory and local providers demonstrate new techniques and technology at no cost to participants.

“Fishermen are really interested in getting good information and learning new techniques,” said Julie Falgout, a Louisiana Sea Grant extension agent.

The two-day Seafood Academy kick-off held recently in Houma drew between 200 and 300 people per day, Matherne said. So many people pre-registered that they had to cut off registration at 300, he added.

“We were very pleased with the interest,” Falgout said. “It proved there are fishermen out there who want good information on how to better their business and livelihood. We are committed to giving them encouragement and tools to help them grow.”

The academy in Houma, which functioned as a kind of fishing trade show, also featured Dock Day with vessels, equipment and hands-on demonstrations. It was modeled after the field days the LSU AgCenter typically holds once a year for farmers and agriculture industry officials to get together and discuss the trade, Matherne said.

“The response has been overwhelming,” he said. “These guys are looking to take every opportunity to improve themselves and their businesses.”

Topics for the upcoming training events will vary based on location. All will address brine-freezing techniques, micro-branding opportunities, eco-tourism business options, Coast Guard Safety information, using the Internet and social media opportunities as well as other current topics.

“Each topic will be addressed in a brief lecture or presentation with additional follow up by examples of people who are putting these ideas into practice in the industry,” said Thomas Hymel, LSU AgCenter marine extension agent. “The programs will be informative and interactive and will include demonstrations as well as videos and photos.”

The Dock Day in Houma featured a live training session focusing on brine freezing, a method of refrigeration that can increase freshness of shrimp, Matherne said. Officials demonstrated how changing the amount of salt in the water can make a difference in product quality and how long they will stay frozen.

One of the simplest, yet most effective first steps to increasing profits for shrimpers is the introduction of 45-pound sacks to store product on brine-freezing boats, Hymel said. “Currently most Louisiana shrimp boats use 90-pound sacks. Studies have shown the use of smaller bags increases the quality of the shrimp, meaning a larger profit for the boat.”

Louisiana Direct Seafood Academy will be in Venice Harbor in Plaquemines Parish from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. March 20. It will also be in Cameron Parish April 9. Times and locations have not been announced.

For more information, visit louisianadirectseafood.com.

Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

<p>Fishermen across south Louisiana are going back to school this month to learn more about their livelihood.</p><p>The Louisiana Direct Seafood Academy, a program sponsored by Louisiana Sea Grant and the LSU AgCenter, is a series of workshops being held across the coast to teach fishermen marketing, product quality, safety and new business techniques to help them succeed in the changing fishing industry.</p><p>The project started with a direct Web-marketing program in Delcambre and has expanded into a website marketing fishermen, producers and retailers in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Cameron parishes and the New Orleans area, along with the Seafood Academy training program.</p><p>“What we're trying to do is increase professionalism and quality so that we can get a better price for seafood,” said Alan Matherne, a Louisiana Sea Grant coastal and fisheries outreach specialist.</p><p>Matherne said the plan is to hold the training annually in March and April before the spring shrimp harvest. These hands-on events provide opportunities for participating commercial fishermen to learn how to increase yield and profit.</p><p>The U.S. Coast Guard, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board, Nature Conservatory and local providers demonstrate new techniques and technology at no cost to participants.</p><p>“Fishermen are really interested in getting good information and learning new techniques,” said Julie Falgout, a Louisiana Sea Grant extension agent.</p><p>The two-day Seafood Academy kick-off held recently in Houma drew between 200 and 300 people per day, Matherne said. So many people pre-registered that they had to cut off registration at 300, he added.</p><p>“We were very pleased with the interest,” Falgout said. “It proved there are fishermen out there who want good information on how to better their business and livelihood. We are committed to giving them encouragement and tools to help them grow.”</p><p>The academy in Houma, which functioned as a kind of fishing trade show, also featured Dock Day with vessels, equipment and hands-on demonstrations. It was modeled after the field days the LSU AgCenter typically holds once a year for farmers and agriculture industry officials to get together and discuss the trade, Matherne said.</p><p>“The response has been overwhelming,” he said. “These guys are looking to take every opportunity to improve themselves and their businesses.”</p><p>Topics for the upcoming training events will vary based on location. All will address brine-freezing techniques, micro-branding opportunities, eco-tourism business options, Coast Guard Safety information, using the Internet and social media opportunities as well as other current topics.</p><p>“Each topic will be addressed in a brief lecture or presentation with additional follow up by examples of people who are putting these ideas into practice in the industry,” said Thomas Hymel, LSU AgCenter marine extension agent. “The programs will be informative and interactive and will include demonstrations as well as videos and photos.”</p><p>The Dock Day in Houma featured a live training session focusing on brine freezing, a method of refrigeration that can increase freshness of shrimp, Matherne said. Officials demonstrated how changing the amount of salt in the water can make a difference in product quality and how long they will stay frozen.</p><p>One of the simplest, yet most effective first steps to increasing profits for shrimpers is the introduction of 45-pound sacks to store product on brine-freezing boats, Hymel said. “Currently most Louisiana shrimp boats use 90-pound sacks. Studies have shown the use of smaller bags increases the quality of the shrimp, meaning a larger profit for the boat.”</p><p>Louisiana Direct Seafood Academy will be in Venice Harbor in Plaquemines Parish from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. March 20. It will also be in Cameron Parish April 9. Times and locations have not been announced.</p><p>For more information, visit louisianadirectseafood.com.</p><p>Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>